Billionaire businessman John Tyson, the grandson of the founder of Tyson Foods, spoke openly about his personal life and his faith in a rare interview with 4029's Leslee Wright.

Gone are the trademark Khaki uniforms. These days, the dress code for John Tyson includes linen and golf shoes.

Advertisement

He rarely sees the board room any more. He's traded the view from the top for a view of the greens. And he dreams of hosting a PGA event at his home course, The Blessings, in Fayetteville.

"We've talked about that and been out here," he said. "Weve had discussions and theyre ongoing."

While Tyson loves to talk golf, he loves to talk religion even more.

"My mom and dad didn't attend church, but I went to church," he said. "I was introduced to the Methodist Church by my granddad, John. He went to the First United Methodist Church of Springdale."

Tyson said growing up in church created a foundation of faith that still guides him today. So much so that when his company bought Hudson Foods in 1998, he made sure to continue and even expand the chaplain program started there.

"It was laid upon my heart that you have a marketplace. You have a ministry. It's the business world," he said. "Now what are you going to do with it?"

Tysons company employs about 140 part-time chaplains in plants and offices worldwide. The spiritual advisors are as diverse as Tysons employees.

"We have people of Jewish faith. We have people of Muslim faith. We got some 20 different variations of Baptists," he said.

Tyson said people who believe in God are passionate about their faith. He wants people to live that passion at work.

"My faith is just an ongoing evolution, trying to understand what faith in the marketplace looks like, giving people permission to live their faith seven days a week," he said. "If people can talk about the football game on Monday, why can't they talk about their faith?"

Talking about his beliefs though has not always been so easy for John Tyson. Like all Christians, he has certainly strayed from the straight and narrow. Twenty years ago Tyson was a man addicted to alcohol and cocaine.

In 2000, his father raised many eyebrows when he appointed John as CEO. Many believed he would fail because of his personal demons.

"I didn't know if I would (be appointed CEO) or not," he said. "I had some difficulties in my life, so I had to reestablish myself once I was into my recovery. Addictions come in all shapes and forms, and this happened to be a social addiction that I recognized, and I'm thankful the good Lord has given me about 17 years of clean and sober."

As for the naysayers, Tyson proved them wrong. He brokered the buyout of IBP in 2001, making his company the largest meat processor in the world.

He also found a great love outside of work: his two children. He guards their privacy more closely than his own.

These days, life for John Tyson is less about business aspirations and more, he said, about life aspirations, and the things that make him happy.

"I'd have to say my faith and my children (make me happy)," he said. "They've been such a blessing, and then the lifelong friends. The chance to continue to learn. I appreciate that more every day. Through the ups and downs, everything is a lesson. My recovery was a lesson. My addictions were lessons. In the end, I'm just thankful."

Tyson said one of the greatest challenges to his faith was praying in public. He said he was afraid of what others might think. He said he now embraces that opportunity to pray in a restaurant for that very reason. He hopes someone might be encouraged to do the same.

See part two of Leslee's exclusive interview with John Tyson Thursday at 10 p.m. on 4029.